Wednesday, March 15, 2006

Kyoku Shodan Kata

THE TECHNIQUE:Start in musubu dachi. Say, "Kyoku Shodan". Bow towards the frong. Do ki readying from Part 1 to Part 2. Flow to hachi dachi. Down block to left side. Cat stance to turn to the left and outside block with left arm. Punch chest-height with right hand. Stand back in previous spot with the same hand positions and facing the same direction. Step right foot back onto the ball, then turn right 180 degrees clockwise into Cat stance. Flow to outside block with right arm. Punch chest-height with left hand. Stand back in previous spot with the same hand positions and facing the same direction. Cat stance turning left 90 degrees and outside block. Take a step forward with your right foot and upwards block with right arm. Take a step forward with your left foot and upwards block with your left arm. Take a step forward with your right foot and punch chest-height with your right hand. Move your left foot behind you and to your right, and touch the ball of your foot to the ground. Turn to your left to Cat stance 270 degrees (to what was your right, but you've made three left turns) and flow to outside block with your left arm. Take a step forward with your right foot and punch chest-height, first with your right, then with your left. Walk your right foot back to your left, put your right foot behind you and touch the ball of your right foot to the ground, and turn 180 degrees to Cat stance, and flow to outside block with your right arm. Take a step forward with your left foot and punch chest-height with your left hand, then your right. Walk your left foot back to your right. Turn to your left to Cat stance and give an outside block with your left arm. Take a step forward with your right foot and punch face-height with your right hand. Take a step forward with your left foot and punch face-height with your left hand. Take a step forward with your right foot and punch face-height with your right hand. Put your left foot behind you and to your right, and turn 225 degrees to your left, and flow into a palm outside block with your left hand. Step your left foot back to your right and go into Cat stance with your right foot out 90 degrees to the right. Flow into a palm outside block with your right hand. Step your right foot back and turn slightly 45 degrees to the left (facing forward again) and bring your left arm up to block your face at a 45 degree angle upwards and then cross your right arm, push out, and flow into hachi dachi. Step into musubi dachi. Do ki readying from Part 2 to Part 4 (skip Part 3). Move back into musubi dachi. Breathe in deeply, and then out.

TIPS:∙ Think of Kyoku Shodan as moving in the shape of a letter "I" - you start at the middle of the base, cover the bottom left limb, then the bottom right, you move up the base, cover the top right limb, then the top left limb (as if to keep balance on both sides of the letter), then fall back down the base.∙ When you think you have it down, practice with your eyes closed (in a vastly open area).∙ Don't look at the kata list. Write all of the movements down on paper and ask someone else to check it for you who has the above list. Have them make any corrections, memorize the corrections, and practice some more.∙ Videotape yourself practicing this kata and watch for any mistakes. Correct them.∙ If someone you know is fluent at this kata, have them watch you and point your mistakes out to you, and fix your mistakes.∙ Try to perform the kata without thinking - "just do it".